#dallastx

#dallastx

Snippet

Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy

Scripture

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!  Hebrews 12:1-3 Message

Song

Hero By Skillet

https://youtu.be/RRkIQ1Djlbs

I'm just a step away

I'm just a breath away

Losin' my faith today

(We're fallin' off the edge today)

I am just a man

Not superhuman

(I'm not superhuman)

Someone save me from the hate

It's just another war

Just another family torn

(We're falling from my faith today)

Just a step from the edge

Just another day in the world we live

[Chorus:]

I need a hero to save me now

I need a hero (save me now)

I need a hero to save my life

A hero'll save me (just in time)

I've gotta fight today

To live another day

Speakin' my mind today

(My voice will be heard today)

I've gotta make a stand

But I am just a man

(I'm not superhuman)

My voice will be heard today

It's just another war

Just another family torn

(My voice will be heard today)

It's just another kill

The countdown begins to destroy ourselves

[Chorus]

I need a hero to save my life

I need a hero just in time

Save me just in time

Save me just in time

Who's gonna fight for what's right

Who's gonna help us survive

We're in the fight of our lives

(And we're not ready to die)

Who's gonna fight for the weak

Who's gonna make 'em believe

I've got a hero (I've got a hero)

Livin' in me

I've gotta fight for what's right

Today I'm speaking my mind

And if it kills me tonight

(I will be ready to die)

A hero's not afraid to give his life

A hero's gonna save me just in time

[Chorus]

I need a hero

Who's gonna fight for what's right

Who's gonna help us survive

I need a hero

Who's gonna fight for the weak

Who's gonna make 'em believe

I need a hero

I need a hero

A hero's gonna save me just in time

Sentence Prayer

Lord, throughout history you have used the seemingly weak to nurture justice, to fight poverty, and to walk bravely toward human thrones of power proclaiming another way.  Help us find comfort and hope in our afflictions, knowing that you are able to use all things for God.  Amen

Claiborne, Shane, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro. Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010. Print. Pg 160

Review Off The Grid by C. J. Box

Ten reasons to read Off the Grid by C.J. Box and all other Joe Picket

novels.

1.  "It's about to get Western."  Joe Picket.    I am shocked, but I do

not remember this line in the new novel, but it is a famous line by

the fictional Wyoming game warden, Joe Picket.  No other author

captures the spirit of the modern West, in his novels, better than C.

J. Box.

2.  You mentally fall in love with the state of Wyoming.  In Off the

Grid you visit the North Platte River valley and the Red Desert.

Every Joe Picket novel author C.J. Box's paints a word landscape,

that transports you to the location.

3.  Manliness abounds in the men and women of the novel.  The

definition of manliness involves one having the character of being

brave and rugged. In this novel, there are multiple manly women

featured Liv, Sheridan, and Jan.

4. A healthy distrust of the government.  Every C.J. Box novel you

are given a good reason, to mistrust the bureaucrats of the United

States Government.  In Off the Grid, you have bumbling wildlife

biologists and  an overreaching National Security Agency.  What I

enjoy is this is not because they are diabolical, they are simply

flawed human beings that populate those offices.

5.  An abundance of flawed good guys sprinkled in to give you

hope, that we may survive the "Keystone Cops".  In this book, it is

outgoing governor Rulon who gives the reader hope, which there

are enough good guys in the government that justice will prevail.

6.  Unlikely heroes abound.   One name in all these novels solidifies

this:  Nate Romanowski!  Nate is ruthless, yet cares about innocent

human life, rogue, and avenger,  hunter and conservationist.

7.  A realistic picture of nature.  In the book Off the Grid, you have

a description of a bear charge that will make your heart stop.  It will

also gives you pause as to why the Grizzly Bear is called the terrible

bear.  But, as a game warden, Joe Picket makes clear how senseless

killing and destruction of nature is unacceptable.

8  The worldview of the sportsman abounds in C.J. Box's novels.

Nate, is a falconer and in Off The Grid  C.J. gives the reader and

entry into the nobility of the sport, without spending the necessary

years to get there.  The author always offers a contrast between a

good sportsman and the wanton destruction of a killer.

9.  The "Redneck Factor."    In off The Grid Nate disables a truck

with a .500 Casul Freedom Arms pistol.   Joe Pickets gift by

Governor Rulon is a $900 Stetson!

10.  Common "Joes"  rule the day.  Joe is a bad shot with his pistol,

so he carries his shotgun.  Joe is married to one woman and has

three daughters and can not control any of the.  This small town

Western man wears Wranglers, has birthday pie, a straight shooter-

in the end always gets his man.

Joe Picket series is my favorite reading material, and I can not wait

for the next release of C.J. Box.